The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 08, 2005
Filed:
Dec. 30, 1998
Robert W. Allport, Harlow Essex, GB;
Stephen Kelly, Hertfordshire, GB;
Timothy J. Nicholls, Standon Herts, GB;
Frederick W. Ryan, Jr., Oxford, CT (US);
Robert W. Allport, Harlow Essex, GB;
Stephen Kelly, Hertfordshire, GB;
Timothy J. Nicholls, Standon Herts, GB;
Frederick W. Ryan, Jr., Oxford, CT (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
System and method are provided for selecting and accounting for value-added services with a closed system metering device. A scanning device coupled to the closed system postage meter scans information, including recipient address, printed on a mailpiece. From the scanned information or manual selection, a selection of value-added services is made and the closed system metering device performs accounting related to the selected value-added services. The recipient address is combined with other information relating to postage payment for the mailpiece to obtain postal data relating to the mailpiece. The postal data is used to generate an indicium, which includes cryptographic evidencing of postage payment. A graphical representation of the selected value-added services is added to the generated indicium to generate a value-added indicium, which is then printed on the mailpiece.